Half-Life: Alyx review

Half-Life: Alyx is the No. 1 pick because no other game here pairs a full single-player campaign with this level of physical interaction and this player verdict. Valve built it for VR from the start: you lean around broken walls to aim, dig through shelves for syringes and shotgun shells, and throw bottles to distract enemies. The story puts you in the role of Alyx Vance between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. On Steam, 98% of 61,936 English reviews are positive and the listed Metacritic score is 93. The game also ships with Source 2 level tools and Hammer, so the Steam Workshop keeps supplying new levels. The trade-off is hardware: it is a Windows PC VR game that lists 12 GB of RAM and a GTX 1060 or RX 580 class GPU as the minimum, and it is sold on Steam rather than as a standalone Quest game. At $59.99 it is also one of the pricier picks.

Who it is for

PC VR owners who want the most acclaimed full-length VR campaign

Price

$59.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store).

VR Only $59.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Story campaign as Alyx Vance, set between Half-Life and Half-Life 2
• Physical interactions: lean around cover, rummage shelves, hack alien interfaces
• Source 2 level tools and an updated Hammer editor included with the game
• Community-built levels through the Steam Workshop
• Adjustable difficulty and save anytime, per the Steam store page

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 98% of 61,936 English Steam reviews are positive
• Strength: Metacritic score of 93 on Steam
• Strength: Workshop levels keep adding content after the campaign
• Weakness: Needs a Windows PC with 12 GB RAM and a GTX 1060 or RX 580 class GPU
• Weakness: Sold on Steam for Windows PC VR, so Quest owners need a PC connection
• Weakness: Single-player only

Key facts

• Developer: Valve
• Price: $59.99 on Steam
• Released: March 23, 2020
• Steam reviews: 98% of 61,936 English reviews positive
• Minimum RAM: 12 GB

Where it ranks

Half-Life: Alyx is No. 1 in our Best VR Games verdict.